Anne - It's been ages since I've read the fourth book.oops.(looks
embarrassed)
Beth Ann - I'm glad you found the line funny,,
jeniah rae - Thanks for thinking the characters are believable. I'm trying not to let Sev & Herm go all mushy and OOC now they're cough been in bed.
Jinni, marston chicklet, snapefan51 - Thank you, here is more. There will be a couple more chapters as sub-plots keep popping up in my head.
The Destructive Duo - Oh dear.don't panic..take a deep breath and think of Alan Rickman then read this chapter, OK? Hope it will help! g
Zoe - Thank you!
Part 14
The next day Hermione woke feeling tired, wondering why before she remembered last night. A goofy grin foreign to her was on her face but then she sobered when she remembered also her rejection of Ron. Poor Ron. She had hated hurting him, but any life together with him would have been impossible.
With a smile darting across her face from time to time though, she got up and dressed for the day, Crookshanks winding around her legs all the while and implying that the human slave needed to provide food, now! When Hermione checked herself in the mirror she paused. She looked different somehow. There was a faint sparkle in her eyes too..but it would not be suitable in the eyes of those who would only know that she had broken up with Ron.
With a solemn look on her face she went down to the Gryffindor common room. Ron was talking to Harry there but broke off when he saw Hermione, and with a tight, sullen look on his face Ron abruptly turned and walked out of the room. Harry turned to look at Hermione, an uncomfortable look on his face, visibly steeling himself before approaching her.
"Hello Hermione," he said quietly.
"Hello Harry," Hermione replied, feeling that there was no need to fake the sad expression on her face. Never one to hold back, she looked at Harry directly. "Ron's told you what happened, hasn't he?"
Harry hesitated, clearly unwilling to be caught between his friends. He couldn't understand why Hermione had broken up with Ron. "He said he wanted things to become...serious, but you turned him down. I've never seen him this upset. Hermione - why? If you don't mind me asking, that is. I thought you were perfect for each other."
Hermione sighed. "In the end, I realised I only thought of him as a friend," she said quietly. "I know that's enough for some people to build something on, but I couldn't. I didn't mean to hurt him, but I think in the end he would have been hurt even more."
Harry stared at her then sighed. "I see..I'm sorry. But are you sure though that you can't give him a second chance?"
Hermione shook her head regretfully. "No, I can't. I'm sorry."
Harry then said abruptly, "What happened to you last night? I know you both went up to the Astronomy Tower, but only Ron came back. I didn't hear you return until hours later - were you caught by a teacher?"
Hermione froze for a second then recovered. "Yes I was..by Professor Snape," she said evasively.
Harry grimaced. "That doesn't surprise me, he's always prowling the corridors like some overgrown bat. The last time he caught me he made me polish all those jars he keeps in his office with pickled 'things' in them - I swear their eyes were watching me too. He probably made you do something unspeakable for ages as well."
Hermione swallowed. Now was not a good time for truth. "Uh, yes, something like that," she said faintly.
Harry gave her a sympathetic smile, noticing how uncomfortable she looked. "Come on, let's go and have breakfast," he said kindly.
They both trooped down to the Great Hall. Most of the students were eating in there already, the morning sun shining gently through the windows over the Head table. All of the staff were present, including Severus, with his usual I-hate-morning-until-I-have-coffee look on him, who looked up sharply when he noticed Hermione was in the hall. They both stared at each other for a timeless, intense moment then he abruptly looked away. They had to maintain indifference to each other in public for a while, Hermione told herself firmly as she walked to her table. Until things settled down.
When she sat down she noticed that Ron had pointedly sat as far away from her seat as he could, and there were some uncomfortable looks on the faces of the other Gryffindors. It was clear Ron hadn't wasted time in telling the others what happened - perhaps portraying her as a cold-hearted bitch as well, Hermione thought with a sinking feeling. The Slytherins at their table, who were always quick to laugh at the misfortune of others, had obviously overhead something as they were giving Ron gloating, amused looks, while Draco leered at Hermione. Hermione glared at him scornfully then looked away.
At the Head table, Sirius was upset to see that Ron and Hermione's relationship had broken up. He muttered as much to Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall whom he was sitting close to.
"It is a shame," Professor McGonagall agreed.
"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "But we cannot interfere. We are guiding the education of our students but we cannot mend their hearts when they break, no matter how much we may wish to. Remember this, Sirius."
Sirius sighed. "I thought she would have been perfect with Ron after.." he broke off and went back to his breakfast, and though Professor McGonagall gave him a perplexed look he refused to enlighten her. After a while, Sirius turned and looked at Snape next to him with a suspicious look in his eyes (Sirius was a great believer in keeping friends and enemies close). He had a feeling in his gut Snape was behind this, somehow.
"Isn't it a shame about Hermione and Ron?" Sirius asked in a voice that was just a shade too casual.
Severus looked at him with icy black eyes that hid his feelings. "What students do with their personal lives doesn't interest me in the slightest," he said curtly. In a strange way though, Severus felt he owed Sirius a debt, not that he would be telling him this. If Sirius hadn't pointed out to himself yesterday that Hermione was going out with Ron, it may have been too late for the satisfying..reconciliation they had had last night (it made his head spin slightly just recalling it!). However, his attention was caught by what Sirius had said in regards to Hermione being 'perfect with Ron after..'. What did Sirius know, and really, what was his sudden concern for Hermione? Severus resolved to find out.
Sirius stared at him hard, then grunted and turned back to his food.
Dumbledore watched this interchange with curiosity, but said nothing.
With Ron clearly refusing to talk to her, matters were uncomfortable between the three friends, with Ron monopolising Harry's attention throughout the day. It was uncomfortable for Harry, for while he couldn't ignore Ron he did feel sorry for Hermione, for it was clear that she had not broken up with Ron out of spite.
Matters were also uncomfortable for Hermione in Potions.. both of them did not realise how difficult it would be to pretend indifference until Hermione came to the Potions class for the day. Although Severus was writing a formula on the blackboard and only gave her the briefest of glances, both of them were acutely aware of the others presence in the dungeon classroom.
While Hermione was bringing out her textbooks for the lesson, Draco turned around in his seat and smirked at her, and then Ron. "What a shame to hear the lovebirds have broken up," he jeered, then he gave Hermione a wink. "If you want a *real* boyfriend, you'll find that I'm more of a man than Weasley."
Ron growled something unintelligible and had to be restrained from lunging out of his chair by Harry, while Hermione glared at Draco. "You're the last person I'd want for a boyfriend!" she hissed, her hands clenched into fists.
There was the rustle of robes and suddenly Professor Snape was standing beside them, a forbidding look on his face. "Malfoy, surely you can find something better to occupy your mind rather than other peoples love lives?" he hissed, having overhead everything. "Five points off Slytherin." Then without a glance at Hermione or Ron he turned and swept back to the blackboard, silently fuming. If Draco even thought about laying a finger on Hermione, he would regret it, he promised himself grimly.
The Gryffindors were amazed that Ron and Hermione had escaped punishment, especially Harry. He had the funny feeling that the professor had been angry on Hermione's behalf, which would be unlike him. Draco however, was taken aback at being chastised for once by Professor Snape. He was furious at being made to look foolish and turned thoughts of malice towards Hermione. Stuck-up cow.always making out that her brain was better than anyone else and often thwarting his schemes. She would pay, he would make sure of it. There would be a time when she was off-guard and then he, Draco, would be waiting.
During the lesson, Severus knew that if he finely tuned his awareness of Hermione he would be able to hear her soft breathing, the steady beating of her heart. When he looked at her long hair he remembered how it had felt to tangle his hands in it. Her presence in his Potions class both soothed the dark restlessness that lay within him, and inflamed it. Some of his habitual bitterness had faded from him and thought he didn't realise it there was a new sense of coiled energy about him.
For Hermione, she had the surreal feeling that when the professor spoke, it was only to her, that the others were inconsequential in his eyes..and she felt in her heart that here in this school, with him, was where she wanted to be forever. Harry and Ron frequently talked of becoming Aurors, hunting down renegade wizards abroad, but she had put down roots here at Hogwarts. Besides, there were always things going on here to put many Muggle adventure films to shame!
She was resolved though to steer clear of Sirius Black. She had the feeling he was concerned over her break up with Ron, and had seen him watching her intently in his Defence Against the Dark Arts class before. She had slipped away quickly after class before he could stop her and have a 'friendly chat' with her. If he discovered that she was in a firm relationship with Severus now.he would believe that she had been 'seduced' again by him and perhaps to do something about his own well-meaning way. Which meant there was bound to be trouble when the relationship was brought out in the open, Hermione thought gloomily. What if he challenged Severus to a duel?
After the lesson Hermione delayed in gathering her belongings together while the other students filed out of the room, Harry casting her a sympathetic look before he followed Ron (who had not looked back). When the classroom was empty except for herself and Severus he lifted his wand and pointing it at the door curtly spoke a word. There was a hollow click as the door locked and he looked narrowly at it, then spoke aloud. "I would say that gives us five minutes before the next horde of students arrive."
Hermione needed no second invitation and getting up from her seat made her way into the aisle, but Severus had already anticipated this and sweeping down from the podium, his black robes flying around him, swept his lover up in his arms and kissed her soundly. Hermione flung her arms around his thin body and kissed him back, both of them delighted to be holding the other again.
When they separated, gasping for breath, Severus glowered down at her. "How I am to cope when I see you during the day and be unable to touch you is beyond my capacity to understand," he growled, but nevertheless folded her gently back into his arms. "Well, I'll be feeling the same way, you know," Hermione retaliated to the Potions Master. "I should hope so!" he retorted, then his voice softened. "Dear girl. You have stolen my heart, you know."
Hermione smiled up at him. "I'll keep it safe," she promised. A fleeting smile devoid of his usual cold malice darted across his face, which quite transformed him, she thought, then he looked grim. "Has Sirius been bothering you?" he asked abruptly. Hermione opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a hesitant tap on the door. "Uh, Professor, the door won't open!" came the nervous, squeaky voice of a student on the other side who clearly wished to be elsewhere. The next class had arrived early.
Severus scowled at the door. "I'm thinking...a spider. Or something equally nasty that I can pickle," he mused. "Well, make sure he doesn't escape afterwards," Hermione said in dry amusement, giving him a reluctant kiss of farewell and letting him go. However, he clasped her upper arms for a moment. "I will see you later!" he murmured. Hermione nodded seriously. "I'll tell you about Sirius later; I'll see if my diary has a vacancy for you."
"Wretched girl!" Severus scolded, giving her a last, hard kiss before letting her go. "It will be more points off for impertinence if you don't be careful."
Hermione smiled then went to get her bag. The door was unlocked again by Severus and the next class of students nervously entered the room. Severus went "hmpf!" under his breath and went to the blackboard to write up the next lesson.
Beth Ann - I'm glad you found the line funny,,
jeniah rae - Thanks for thinking the characters are believable. I'm trying not to let Sev & Herm go all mushy and OOC now they're cough been in bed.
Jinni, marston chicklet, snapefan51 - Thank you, here is more. There will be a couple more chapters as sub-plots keep popping up in my head.
The Destructive Duo - Oh dear.don't panic..take a deep breath and think of Alan Rickman then read this chapter, OK? Hope it will help! g
Zoe - Thank you!
Part 14
The next day Hermione woke feeling tired, wondering why before she remembered last night. A goofy grin foreign to her was on her face but then she sobered when she remembered also her rejection of Ron. Poor Ron. She had hated hurting him, but any life together with him would have been impossible.
With a smile darting across her face from time to time though, she got up and dressed for the day, Crookshanks winding around her legs all the while and implying that the human slave needed to provide food, now! When Hermione checked herself in the mirror she paused. She looked different somehow. There was a faint sparkle in her eyes too..but it would not be suitable in the eyes of those who would only know that she had broken up with Ron.
With a solemn look on her face she went down to the Gryffindor common room. Ron was talking to Harry there but broke off when he saw Hermione, and with a tight, sullen look on his face Ron abruptly turned and walked out of the room. Harry turned to look at Hermione, an uncomfortable look on his face, visibly steeling himself before approaching her.
"Hello Hermione," he said quietly.
"Hello Harry," Hermione replied, feeling that there was no need to fake the sad expression on her face. Never one to hold back, she looked at Harry directly. "Ron's told you what happened, hasn't he?"
Harry hesitated, clearly unwilling to be caught between his friends. He couldn't understand why Hermione had broken up with Ron. "He said he wanted things to become...serious, but you turned him down. I've never seen him this upset. Hermione - why? If you don't mind me asking, that is. I thought you were perfect for each other."
Hermione sighed. "In the end, I realised I only thought of him as a friend," she said quietly. "I know that's enough for some people to build something on, but I couldn't. I didn't mean to hurt him, but I think in the end he would have been hurt even more."
Harry stared at her then sighed. "I see..I'm sorry. But are you sure though that you can't give him a second chance?"
Hermione shook her head regretfully. "No, I can't. I'm sorry."
Harry then said abruptly, "What happened to you last night? I know you both went up to the Astronomy Tower, but only Ron came back. I didn't hear you return until hours later - were you caught by a teacher?"
Hermione froze for a second then recovered. "Yes I was..by Professor Snape," she said evasively.
Harry grimaced. "That doesn't surprise me, he's always prowling the corridors like some overgrown bat. The last time he caught me he made me polish all those jars he keeps in his office with pickled 'things' in them - I swear their eyes were watching me too. He probably made you do something unspeakable for ages as well."
Hermione swallowed. Now was not a good time for truth. "Uh, yes, something like that," she said faintly.
Harry gave her a sympathetic smile, noticing how uncomfortable she looked. "Come on, let's go and have breakfast," he said kindly.
They both trooped down to the Great Hall. Most of the students were eating in there already, the morning sun shining gently through the windows over the Head table. All of the staff were present, including Severus, with his usual I-hate-morning-until-I-have-coffee look on him, who looked up sharply when he noticed Hermione was in the hall. They both stared at each other for a timeless, intense moment then he abruptly looked away. They had to maintain indifference to each other in public for a while, Hermione told herself firmly as she walked to her table. Until things settled down.
When she sat down she noticed that Ron had pointedly sat as far away from her seat as he could, and there were some uncomfortable looks on the faces of the other Gryffindors. It was clear Ron hadn't wasted time in telling the others what happened - perhaps portraying her as a cold-hearted bitch as well, Hermione thought with a sinking feeling. The Slytherins at their table, who were always quick to laugh at the misfortune of others, had obviously overhead something as they were giving Ron gloating, amused looks, while Draco leered at Hermione. Hermione glared at him scornfully then looked away.
At the Head table, Sirius was upset to see that Ron and Hermione's relationship had broken up. He muttered as much to Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall whom he was sitting close to.
"It is a shame," Professor McGonagall agreed.
"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "But we cannot interfere. We are guiding the education of our students but we cannot mend their hearts when they break, no matter how much we may wish to. Remember this, Sirius."
Sirius sighed. "I thought she would have been perfect with Ron after.." he broke off and went back to his breakfast, and though Professor McGonagall gave him a perplexed look he refused to enlighten her. After a while, Sirius turned and looked at Snape next to him with a suspicious look in his eyes (Sirius was a great believer in keeping friends and enemies close). He had a feeling in his gut Snape was behind this, somehow.
"Isn't it a shame about Hermione and Ron?" Sirius asked in a voice that was just a shade too casual.
Severus looked at him with icy black eyes that hid his feelings. "What students do with their personal lives doesn't interest me in the slightest," he said curtly. In a strange way though, Severus felt he owed Sirius a debt, not that he would be telling him this. If Sirius hadn't pointed out to himself yesterday that Hermione was going out with Ron, it may have been too late for the satisfying..reconciliation they had had last night (it made his head spin slightly just recalling it!). However, his attention was caught by what Sirius had said in regards to Hermione being 'perfect with Ron after..'. What did Sirius know, and really, what was his sudden concern for Hermione? Severus resolved to find out.
Sirius stared at him hard, then grunted and turned back to his food.
Dumbledore watched this interchange with curiosity, but said nothing.
With Ron clearly refusing to talk to her, matters were uncomfortable between the three friends, with Ron monopolising Harry's attention throughout the day. It was uncomfortable for Harry, for while he couldn't ignore Ron he did feel sorry for Hermione, for it was clear that she had not broken up with Ron out of spite.
Matters were also uncomfortable for Hermione in Potions.. both of them did not realise how difficult it would be to pretend indifference until Hermione came to the Potions class for the day. Although Severus was writing a formula on the blackboard and only gave her the briefest of glances, both of them were acutely aware of the others presence in the dungeon classroom.
While Hermione was bringing out her textbooks for the lesson, Draco turned around in his seat and smirked at her, and then Ron. "What a shame to hear the lovebirds have broken up," he jeered, then he gave Hermione a wink. "If you want a *real* boyfriend, you'll find that I'm more of a man than Weasley."
Ron growled something unintelligible and had to be restrained from lunging out of his chair by Harry, while Hermione glared at Draco. "You're the last person I'd want for a boyfriend!" she hissed, her hands clenched into fists.
There was the rustle of robes and suddenly Professor Snape was standing beside them, a forbidding look on his face. "Malfoy, surely you can find something better to occupy your mind rather than other peoples love lives?" he hissed, having overhead everything. "Five points off Slytherin." Then without a glance at Hermione or Ron he turned and swept back to the blackboard, silently fuming. If Draco even thought about laying a finger on Hermione, he would regret it, he promised himself grimly.
The Gryffindors were amazed that Ron and Hermione had escaped punishment, especially Harry. He had the funny feeling that the professor had been angry on Hermione's behalf, which would be unlike him. Draco however, was taken aback at being chastised for once by Professor Snape. He was furious at being made to look foolish and turned thoughts of malice towards Hermione. Stuck-up cow.always making out that her brain was better than anyone else and often thwarting his schemes. She would pay, he would make sure of it. There would be a time when she was off-guard and then he, Draco, would be waiting.
During the lesson, Severus knew that if he finely tuned his awareness of Hermione he would be able to hear her soft breathing, the steady beating of her heart. When he looked at her long hair he remembered how it had felt to tangle his hands in it. Her presence in his Potions class both soothed the dark restlessness that lay within him, and inflamed it. Some of his habitual bitterness had faded from him and thought he didn't realise it there was a new sense of coiled energy about him.
For Hermione, she had the surreal feeling that when the professor spoke, it was only to her, that the others were inconsequential in his eyes..and she felt in her heart that here in this school, with him, was where she wanted to be forever. Harry and Ron frequently talked of becoming Aurors, hunting down renegade wizards abroad, but she had put down roots here at Hogwarts. Besides, there were always things going on here to put many Muggle adventure films to shame!
She was resolved though to steer clear of Sirius Black. She had the feeling he was concerned over her break up with Ron, and had seen him watching her intently in his Defence Against the Dark Arts class before. She had slipped away quickly after class before he could stop her and have a 'friendly chat' with her. If he discovered that she was in a firm relationship with Severus now.he would believe that she had been 'seduced' again by him and perhaps to do something about his own well-meaning way. Which meant there was bound to be trouble when the relationship was brought out in the open, Hermione thought gloomily. What if he challenged Severus to a duel?
After the lesson Hermione delayed in gathering her belongings together while the other students filed out of the room, Harry casting her a sympathetic look before he followed Ron (who had not looked back). When the classroom was empty except for herself and Severus he lifted his wand and pointing it at the door curtly spoke a word. There was a hollow click as the door locked and he looked narrowly at it, then spoke aloud. "I would say that gives us five minutes before the next horde of students arrive."
Hermione needed no second invitation and getting up from her seat made her way into the aisle, but Severus had already anticipated this and sweeping down from the podium, his black robes flying around him, swept his lover up in his arms and kissed her soundly. Hermione flung her arms around his thin body and kissed him back, both of them delighted to be holding the other again.
When they separated, gasping for breath, Severus glowered down at her. "How I am to cope when I see you during the day and be unable to touch you is beyond my capacity to understand," he growled, but nevertheless folded her gently back into his arms. "Well, I'll be feeling the same way, you know," Hermione retaliated to the Potions Master. "I should hope so!" he retorted, then his voice softened. "Dear girl. You have stolen my heart, you know."
Hermione smiled up at him. "I'll keep it safe," she promised. A fleeting smile devoid of his usual cold malice darted across his face, which quite transformed him, she thought, then he looked grim. "Has Sirius been bothering you?" he asked abruptly. Hermione opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a hesitant tap on the door. "Uh, Professor, the door won't open!" came the nervous, squeaky voice of a student on the other side who clearly wished to be elsewhere. The next class had arrived early.
Severus scowled at the door. "I'm thinking...a spider. Or something equally nasty that I can pickle," he mused. "Well, make sure he doesn't escape afterwards," Hermione said in dry amusement, giving him a reluctant kiss of farewell and letting him go. However, he clasped her upper arms for a moment. "I will see you later!" he murmured. Hermione nodded seriously. "I'll tell you about Sirius later; I'll see if my diary has a vacancy for you."
"Wretched girl!" Severus scolded, giving her a last, hard kiss before letting her go. "It will be more points off for impertinence if you don't be careful."
Hermione smiled then went to get her bag. The door was unlocked again by Severus and the next class of students nervously entered the room. Severus went "hmpf!" under his breath and went to the blackboard to write up the next lesson.
